Needle tatting help needed

[Kersti]

OK, so I'm going along nicely with the needle tatting but I keep hitting the same snags - as the stitches of my ring are on the needle, if I need to join to another ring I'm finding that it's not flexible enough - Case in point is the centre of Vicki Clarke's Ruffled Heart (http://www.intatters.com/library/showlink.php?l=152). Can any of you let me know the secrets???

[BlueDode]

Kersti:
Are you trying to make the joins using the tip of the tatting needle? If so, try using a crochet hook again: you may have to pull through a loop 3-4 inches long to get it over the needle. Then snug it back up again. I haven't a chance to try the pattern: hopefully I can get to it in a couple of days and I'll see if I have any technical problems.
Good luck!

[Kersti]

That's what I've been doing, trouble is that the ring I'm joining to is so much smaller...

[BlueDode]

Kersti:

Fri eve at tatting guild I tried needle tatting this heart pattern: I'm down to the last big lobe (have to redo part of the first big lobe: I got off on the pattern). I had no problems with the joins: I used Dora Young Knots for the lock joins around the initial ring; the joins to picots, ring to ring worked OK for me when using a crochet hook for those joins.

The RW / DNRW stuff: not sure I followed it exactly -- I'll try it with the shuttle and keep track soon. I used right side / wrong side tatting and followed the picture visually to maintain proper orientation. And, I threw in some overhand knots (1/2 double stitch) between rings to keep things together. I'll try again with the needle, too, and write down what I do the next time.

I has fits using Lizbeth size 20 threads for needle tatting: the thread twisted up on the needle and it took me lots of time straitening out those twists to complete rings and chains. I so much prefer yarn and tapestry cotton for needle tatting (low twist stuff).

Where exactly in the pattern was/were the problem join(s)?

[lalou]

hi lalou here, as you know i've only been needle tatting a few weeks now and i am trying to use up all of my extra cross stitch threads before buying tatting thread, anyway i came across this needle threader with two thin hooks on either side this works really well in tight spots (or small picot/joins).

[Judy]

Those are good ideas. I had the same problem at the "dimple" at the top of a heart pattern. Two stitches to the point of the dimple, two stitches back to the picot and a join to a picot that's still on the needle! Here's what I've been doing when the needle won't bend and the join has to be made.
In needle tatting, tatting with 1 needle and a ball, simply interrupt the chain or ring series and take some of the stitches off the needle. Then, make the join you need and resume tatting. Be sure you use the ball thread for the join. When you finally remove the remaining stitches, the core thread will pull the stitches together at the join. Watch out for too much a space on the needle when you resume, or you'll end up with an unwanted picot. In the case of the heart, the spot to use to interrupt is the point of the dimple.